Tortoise Care

Basic tortoise care:- Tortoise care is very important if you want to keep your pet tortoise in good condition and in good health. Tortoise care is also essential to the longevity of their tortoise pet. You should keep the exotic species only if you are knowledgeable about reptiles and are in the position to cater to their specific needs.

Light and heating:- Tortoises’ thermo regulate their bodies by going in the sun. You will need to provide a source of heat and light for this purpose. This also stimulates tortoises to eat and provide the necessary external heat required for thermo regulation. The day time temperature requirement is 75-85 degree farenheight (24-29oC). A brightly lit spot is also required for basking. For aquatic tortoise, you can use a submersible heater or an under tank heater. Thermometer is used to measure the water temperatures. You should provide an incandescent bulb to maintain the basking area. Outdoor environment do not require artificial lightning and heat requirements.

Shelter:- Tortoise needs a cool and secluded area to sleep. They may use this area in case they are getting too warm

1. Aquatic turtles often sleep submerged in water near to the surface around twigs
2. semi aquatic turtles sleep burrowed into grassy areas or in sphagnum moss substrate
3. Land tortoises are comfortable in a small shed or a bushy area

Tortoise food:- Daily feeding is not necessary for tortoise, but provides for their long term good health. Tortoise will become restless and move around nosing things when it is hungry. Tortoise is a vegetarian and enjoys a variety of Tortoise food.

1. Aquatic turtle: The Tortoise food varies from the juvenile stage to adult one. Juvenile will eat vegetables, worms and insects. Adults are vegetarian and eat dark leafy vegetables
2. Land tortoise: are omnivorous all their life. They feed on vegetables, fruits, earthworms and even on dog food

Water:- All tortoises need clean water where they can dive and get wet. Water is one of the basic requirements of tortoise as they need water to do their daily activities.

1. Aquatic tortoises will dehydrate if they are kept out of water for too long. They need to be submerged for a long time in order to swallow their food
2. Semi aquatic tortoises do not spend all their time submerged in water but still need it in order to get wet
3. Land tortoises can do with a spill proof dish to satisfy their water requirements

Health care for pet Tortoise :-

1. General parasite control and worming treatment
2. Quarantine for new tortoise entering the group
3. Feeding of vitamins and calcium supplements

Tortoise enclosure:- Tortoise enclosure is very important and should be able to provide your pet tortoise with reasonable conditions. There should be sufficient space for the tortoise to ramble and get plenty of exercise Provide some cover so that your pet Tortoise can retire at night or during intense sun. If possible have a miniature landscape so that it is a little closer to his natural habitat

Tortoise hibernation:- Hibernation is the process in which your pet tortoise slows down and prepares for winter. Preparation for hibernation is always tricky and requires particular care. You need to take a lot of care of your pet tortoise as he goes to sleep in autumn and get him safely back into action in spring

Tortoise care is very important for your pet tortoise. Basic tortoise care includes tortoise food and water requirements along with health care. Tortoise care may be a little different for land tortoise, aquatic tortoise or semi aquatic tortoise.